Badr al-Din al-Damamini

Badr al-Din al-Damamini (763–827 AH / 1362–1424 CE) was an Alexandria-born Maliki jurist, grammarian, and literary scholar who taught in Egypt, Yemen, and India Masabih al-Jami+1. He is especially known for his grammatical commentary on Ibn Malik's compendium, Taliq al-Faraid ala Tashil al-Fawaid (The Fastening of Precious Gems upon the Facilitation of Benefits), and his hadith commentary Masabih al-Jami (Lamps of the Comprehensive Collection) Hadiyat al-Arifin Asma al…+1.

Lineage and Early Life

He was Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr ibn Umar ibn Abi Bakr ibn Muhammad ibn Sulayman al-Qurashi al-Makhzumi, known as Badr al-Din al-Damamini or Ibn al-Damamini Masabih al-Jami+1. Through his mother, he was a grandson of the Maliki scholar Nasir al-Din Ibn al-Munayyir Masabih al-Jami+1. He was born in Alexandria in 763 AH (1362 CE), though a variant report cited by Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti gives 764 AH Masabih al-Jami.

In Alexandria, he studied under his relative Baha al-Din Ibn al-Damamini and Abd al-Wahhab al-Qarawi Nuzhat al-Khawatir wa Bah…+1. He also studied in Cairo under scholars including Siraj al-Din Ibn al-Mulaqqin and Majd al-Din al-Hanafi, and received instruction in Mecca from the judge Abu al-Fadl al-Shawbari Nuzhat al-Khawatir wa Bah…+1.

Career, Financial Crisis, and Travels

Al-Damamini served as a deputy judge in Alexandria for Ibn al-Tanasi and taught at several local madrasas before moving to Cairo, where he also deputized in the judiciary and held a teaching post for Arabic grammar at al-Azhar Mosque Nuzhat al-Khawatir wa Bah…+1. He returned to Alexandria in 794 AH, combining teaching and judicial duties with commerce Nuzhat al-Khawatir wa Bah…+1. In 800 AH, he travelled to Damascus with his cousin, performed the Hajj from there, and returned to Alexandria, where he became the preacher of its congregational mosque and stepped down from judicial duties Nuzhat al-Khawatir wa Bah…+1. He was nominated for the chief Maliki judgeship in Cairo, but the appointment was not finalized Nuzhat al-Khawatir wa Bah…+1.

Later, he engaged in textile weaving and established a large workshop, but a fire destroyed his home and property, leaving him in severe debt Bughyat al-Wuat fi Tabaqa…+1. He fled to Upper Egypt, where his creditors tracked him down and brought him back under disgrace to Cairo al-Majma al-Muassis lil-M…+1. He was relieved of his predicament through the assistance of Taqi al-Din Ibn Hijjah and the sultanic secretary Nasir al-Din al-Barizi, and he attended the assembly of Sultan al-Mu'ayyad al-Majma al-Muassis lil-M…+1.

In 819 AH, al-Damamini set out for the pilgrimage, and in 820 AH he arrived in Yemen, where he taught at the congregational mosque of Zabid for approximately a year under the patronage of the Rasulid ruler al-Nasir Bughyat al-Wuat fi Tabaqa…+1. In Yemen, he met scholars such as Muhammad ibn Nur al-Din al-Mawza'i and Ismail al-Muqri Mawsuat al-Qabail al-Arab…. Dissatisfied with his prospects in Zabid, he crossed the sea to Gujarat and the Deccan in India, where he was received with great honor and acquired considerable wealth al-Majma al-Muassis lil-M…+1. While in India, he composed Tuhfat al-Gharib (The Gift of the Stranger), a commentary on Ibn Hisham al-Ansari's Mughni al-Labib Fihris al-Makhtutat al-Ar…+1.

Students and Scholarly Standing

Al-Damamini taught numerous students across Egypt, Yemen, and India. Among his prominent students were the literary author Ali ibn Abd Allah al-Ghuzuli, Muhammad ibn Abd al-Majid al-Ajami, Ubadah ibn Ali al-Zarzari—who accompanied him to Yemen and studied his notes on Mughni al-Labib before al-Damamini departed for India—and the Meccan Maliki judge Abd al-Qadir ibn Ahmad al-Sa'di al-Abbadi Masabih al-Jami.

Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani was his close companion; he sat with him frequently, exchanged prose and poetry with him, and received written licenses (ijazat) from him for himself and his children al-Majma al-Muassis lil-M…. Ibn Hajar described him as one of the accomplished masters in the literary arts, quick in comprehension, possessing a strong memory, and characterized by warm friendship al-Majma al-Muassis lil-M….

Death

Al-Damamini died in Gulbarga (Kalbarga) in the Deccan region of India in Sha'ban 827 AH / 1424 CE al-Majma al-Muassis lil-M…+1. Other sources place his death in 828 AH, while al-Suyuti notes reports giving Sha'ban 837 AH or 838 AH, adding that he was reportedly poisoned Kashf al-Zunun an Asami a…+1.